"There have been seven noted versions of the Subaru Impreza WRX dating back from Subaru's original World Rally Cross staging vehicles. Subaru adopted the name WRX to stand for ‘World Rally eXperimental’, as all WRX versions feature rally inspired technology, including all-wheel drive, stiffened suspensions and turbocharged four-cylinder engines. In 1994, Subaru introduced Subaru Tecnica International (STI) versions of the WRX in Japan. These models were upgraded from the standard WRX in many categories, including blueprinted performance-tuned engines, transmissions, and suspension. The STI versions of the WRX were immensely successful in rallies and popular among street racers but were only sold in the Japanese market. Compared to the WRX, the STI had mostly mechanical modifications. To counter the grey imports of high-performance Japanese STI variants, Subaru UK commissioned Prodrive to produce a limited edition of 1,000 two-door cars in Sonic Blue, called the WRX 'P1'.
Released in March 2000, they were taken from the two-door STI Type-R production lines and used for the P1. Styling tweaks by McLaren F1 designer Peter Stevens added aggression and reduced drag. A reinforced bodyshell and bespoke suspension were designed by Prodrive to dispatch of UK A and B roads with perfect balance and composure at speed over undulations. This truly stunning Impreza P1, that we think is the best presented in the country, has been owned by our vendor since 2001, who is only the third owner, the first we believe was the dealership. Number 351 was purchased from the Subaru dealer Lancasters Pangbourne in August 2001. Our vendor has owned and cherished the car ever since, servicing and maintaining the car with the very same dealership until it moved to Bulldog Subaru in Twyford. Upon Purchase he also bought a rare original Subaru P1 leather jacket which is offered with the car today alongside original sales brochure, booklets and dealer packs, original pen and all original documentation relating to the purchase, quite the P1 haul of which many items cannot be purchased or found today. Number 351 also benefits from the factory optional 18” wheel and Alcon ‘big brake’ upgrades. After 20 years of blissful driving and exclusive main dealer maintenance, details of which can be found in the impressive history file, the engine needed replacing. Frustrated with the quality of some of the components the decision was made to have a completely new engine fitted and strengthened but it had to be built to the original P1 specifications and this brought about an incredible restoration program for a car that was only 20 years old. Importantly during this programme, the originality of the P1 and all Prodrive settings and parts were paramount therefore sourcing and replacement parts was something of a minefield but one navigated with aplomb by our vendor with help of his son. The car benefitted from a full repaint in the original colour, the trim and interior was all intact and apart from full detailing is original and in fantastic condition throughout. The running gear was all inspected and if required removed cleaned or replaced with new bushes and suspension components and brake lines either sourced correctly from Subaru or Prodrive or in the case of the coil springs, the owner tracked down Peter Cambridge, the original lead developer at Prodrive to commission a new set from Eibach remade to the exact original Prodrive specification. The attention to detail has been staggering as has been the cost, this was all rounded up with a full paint correction three stage detail and ceramic coating, so the car looks better today than when our vendor purchased it in August of 2001. Within the last 1,000 miles, this P1 has benefited from a new turbo, clutch, engine rebuild, four new and correct Pirelli P-Zero Nero tyres as well as a four-wheel alignment.
There may be P1’s with less mileage, there may be P1’s with one owner but we are confident that no Subaru P1 has had this much attention and expense lavished on it to not only make it present better than new but also to perform and be maintained better than a new car. Where many have had to use aftermarket parts this car retains its original Prodrive specification, so it performs as the original P1 was intended with the same power, performance and handling.
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